Folding table



Dec. 25, 19u34. R Q CUFFEL 1,985,284

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 29, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1934. R, 0, CUFFEL 1,985,284

FOLDING TABLE g lFiled July 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 25, i 1934 UNI-TED vs'rrfrlzs FOLDING TABLE Roy O. Cuifel, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 29, 1933, Serial No. 682,814,-

6 Claims.

This invention relates totables and more particularly to folding leg tables used f orcard gamesv or the like. l The above type of table now `in general use kl; tend to wobble or in some cases collapsel when the legs are opened or extended. f v

It is therefore the Vobject' of l the` present invention to providea tableA of the vcharacter described v that vW11 be substantialand. rigid when vthe legs 10"l are extended. v l 1 Another object'. is to provide a table of the character described in .which the legs mayA be quickly opened lor closed and automatically lock when extended. Y U* F5 'smother object iste .provide .a folding ieg table having Say novel flocking' mechanism yWhich/Will firmly hold 'the legs in open or extended position; A furthero'bje'ct is to provide a folding leg table Y so constructed vthatv the legs can only be folded 20 in'properorder inoverlapping relation toA eachother. j

. Other objects and advantages-willbef apparent from the following description,. reference Abeing had" tothe :accompanying: drawings, in which: Fig.' l'fisf aside yelevation of. the folding leg table, vparts being; broken away and shown in section. fr. Fig. T2 is a vertical' section takenI on line `2;-2

80 y.-v1ng-f2..isabottompianrview. e

Fig. 4 is a'viewsimila'rto Fig. 3 the-legs in kfolded position. L

5- isla-.horizontal section *takenV onf line 5-3-5of1iligl4. 'y

'Fig. 6-is an enlarged horizontale online6.--6-cfFig.3.1 f ff Fig. 7 is a. section -takenon-line 77of Fig. 4. ,.Fig. 8 -is- -a" detail Asection taken` through the latohmechanism. indicated by line 8-8 of 235 section taken .Fig .9 is a view analogous4 to Fig. 8 showing the position assumed Abv the latches during'fol'ding of the table legs. ,v

Fig. 10f is a fragmentaryplan vi'ew'of the latch mechanism. Fig. 1:1 is atransverse s 11-'1'1 of Fig. 8. L

Referring morev specifically to the drawings, the table top designatedv at l0 is of square' shape and providedvvith anV apron 1l. Pivctally connetted tothe opposite side members 12 of the apron 'or suitable pins 13 are oppositely disposed pairsfof vlegs 14 and 1-*5 respectively, the legs of each pair being joined' together by a cross piece "55 `161m order that .they v:wiiiytnm.in unisomwhile ectijon. taken on line sh-owing.

the pins 13 are disposed horizontal' planes in oiset relation so that theflegs of onefpair' Willy fold upon those of the other pair. Connected to the legs 14 isa brace 18- and toY legs 15 a bracel 19, whichY braces serve Vto hold "5f said legs in'extended' or `openposition as shown. inFigs. `1 and 2. Each bracel substantiallyv V-shaped in elevation and preferablyV formed ofl a single piece Vof steel Wire. The armsoi' the braces have outwardly turned ends- Whichf'eX- tend into land are pivoted inaligned openings formed in the legsA at a point below thepivot pins. 13, While their inner or free ends overlap,las clearly shown in Figs. Sand 10. "In the present instance thebrace'19 extends over that-ofrbracei 18. j =`This overlapping permits opening and closing oftheI legs without interference or contact of one brace with the other during such movement, .and is an important feature of the invention. Secured tothe intermediate portions 25 of the braces 18 and 19 are eyes or loops 21 that slidably engageguide rods-22 and 23 respectively, that are securedto a rail 24 formed integral with or secured to thetop 10. 25

.Guide rods 22 and 23are'provided toffguideV the braces 18 and 19 into engagementwith ar locking or latch' mechanism, generally'designated-Jat 26 thaty serves vto hold: or retain the legs in open or extended position andvisconstructed in a manner hereinafter described;` f y j r `Aspreviously referred'to, the legsof one pair areV arranged to'fold on those of-,.tl ie other-pair, in thepresent instancethe1egs15 upon the legs 14, and in order to insure such movement or .pref l vent. closingv otherwise the guide member 22 is providedywith a stop or abutment 28.

. The guide rod 22 is formed'of spring .metal and is secured to the -rail 24 by a screvv` or the like 29 and has fformed therein ,an upraised portion 30 1 adjacent the screWY29, While, the stop or` abutment 28 is formed in itsvouter end portion and is disposedin a slot.32 formedinthe rail 24. When the legsv of both pair are opened the abutment will bevraised rglifted so that'it projects above 14'5 the surface` of the rail by the intermediate portion 25 of the brace 18 (Which then extendsunl.- der the guide rod 22) as shown in Fig. y6.

When in this positionv the legsv 1'5cannot be closed forthe reason. that should anattempt be made to do so such movementwouldbe stopped orlimited by contact of .the intermediate portion 25 of the brace 19.vvith.` the face of the abutment 28.

Onathe'other hand WhenLor after the legs l14 55 have been closed the abutment will be moved back in the slot 32 due to the spring action of the rod 22 and the intermediate portion 25 of the brace 18 then engaging the upraised portion 3) of the bar. Thereafter, the legs 15 may be closed. Outward movement of the braces is limited by stops 33 secured to the rail 24.

Referring to- Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, the locking mechanism 26 consists of a pair of latches 36 that are disposed in a slot 37 formed in the rail 24 midway of its ends and are pivotally mounted on pins 38 extending through said slot.

Each latch comprises a lever arm 39 and a finger or latch jaw 40 having a cam face 41 formed thereon, the lever and jaw being disposed at substantially righ't angles to each other, between which are formed a recess or indent indicated at 42, the latches being preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal, diestamped into the shape above described.

Thel latches are mounted on the pivot pins 38 with the jaws 40 projecting in opposite directions and when thus positioned the recess 42 of one latch accommodates'the pin of thel other, thereby permitting independent pivotal movement, the latches being linterconnectedv at ay point below the pivot pins 38 by a retractile coil spring v43 which serves to restore. the same to normal position.

Pivotally connected as indicated at 44 to the lever arms 39 of the latches are detents 45-having inwardly turned ends 46 that engage and limit movement of said detents on the armsl The detents serve to disengage the portions 25 of the braces 18. and 19 from the latches ina manner later described.

During opening of the legs the intermediate portions 25 of the braces engage the cam faces 41 of the jaws and depress the same as shown in Fig. 9, i. e. until the intermediate portions pass thereover, whereupon the jaws snap over the same (by action of the spring), resulting in locking the braces as shown in Fig. 10. i Y

When locked as above described the intermediate portions of the braces occupy the recesses 42 and are engaged by the faces 48 of the jaws of the latches and thereby firmly hold the legs in extended position.

In releasing .or unlocking latches, the detents are adapted to be manually gripped, i. e. between the thumb and first nger, the action of which simultaneously tilts the latches and brings1v the detents into engagement with `the intermediate portions 25 of each brace. Continued movement of the latches releases the jaws from intermediate portion 25 of the braces, whereupon the detents throw the same clearl ofthe latches. l The legs may then be closed as above described.

It will be noted that due to the pivotal mounting of the latches, relative position of the lever arms and detents thereon, a quick and positive release of the braces from the locking mechanism is effected. V

From the foregoing itwill beA seen that the table is of substantial construction', may be easily and cheaply produced, also, that when the legs are opened and locked, a construction is provided that is substantially as strong as that of a usual rigid leg table.

I claim: Y

l. A folding leg table comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally connected to said top and arranged to fold oneupon the other, a locking mechanism including a pair of pivoted latches mounted on the underside of said top, braces pivotally connected tothe legs ofeach pair, a pail.

of guide rods secured tov the underside of said top for guiding the braces into engagement with latches of said locking mechanism when each pair of said legs are fully extended, one of said guide rods having an abutment formed thereon for preventing improper closing of said legs so that they may be only folded one on the other in overlapping relation.

2. A folding leg table comprising a table top, two pairs of legs pivotally connectedr to ythe table top, braces pivotally connected to said legs, a pair of longitudinally disposed guide rods secured to the table top, means secured to each of said braces intermediate their ends and slidably engaging said guide rods for holding the same in engagement therewith, a locking mechanism for holding the legs in extended position comprising a `pair of pivotally'mounted latches, each latch having a lever arm and a jaw provided with a cam surface disposed in the path traversed by the intermediate portions of said bracesduring opening of the legs, a detent pivotally connected to the arm of each latch and arranged to engage and release the intermediate portions of said braces from the latches, and spring means interconnecting said latches for holding the same in engagement with the braces.v

v4'3. A folding leg table comprising a table top, two pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top, braces pivotally connected to said legs, a pair of longitudinally disposed guide rods secured to the table top, means secured to each of said braces intermediate their ends and slidably'vengaging said guide bars for holding the same in engagement therewith, a locking mechanism for holding the legs in extended position comprising a pair oflatches disposed in the slot formed in said rail and pivotally mounted therein, each latch having a lever arm and jaw provided with a cam face, there being an indent formed in each latch between the lever arm and jaw, said latches being mounted on the pivotal connections lwith the jaws projecting in opposite directions and their cam faces disposed in the path traversed by the intermediate portions of the bracesk during opening of the legs, a detent pivotally connected to the arm of each latch and arranged to engage and release the intermediate portions of said braces from the latches, and a retractile coil spring interconnecting said latches, for holding the same inlengagement with the braces. f

4. A folding leg table comprising a table top, two pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top, a rail having a slot therein midway of its ends secured to the underside of the table top, braces pivotally connected to said legs, a pair of longitudinally disposed guide rods secured to said rail, means secured to each of said braces intermediate their ends and slidably engaging said guide rods, a locking mechanism for holding the legs in extended position comprising a pair of latches disposed in the slotformed in said rail and pivotally mounted therein, each latch having a lever arm' and a jaw provided with a cam surface projecting beyond the face of said rail with the cam surface disposed in the path traversed by the intermediate portions of said braces during opening 'of the legs, a detent pivotally connected to the arm of each latch and arranged to engage and release the intermediate portions of said braces from the latches, and spring means interconnecting said latches for holding the same in engagement with the braces.

15'. A folding leg table comprising a table top, a

rail having a recess formed therein secured to the underside of the top, two pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top and arranged to fold one upon the other, V-shaped braces pivotally connected to each pair of said legs with their free ends in overlapping relation to each other, a locking mechanism for holding said legs in extended position comprising a pair of latches disposed in a recess formed in said rail and pivotally mounted therein, each latch having a lever arm and jaw provided with a cam face projecting beyond the surface of the rail, there being an indent formed in each latch between the lever arm and jaw, said latches being mounted on the pivotal connections with the jaws projecting in opposite directions and their cam faces disposed in the path traversed by the intermediate portions of the braces during opening of the legs, a'detentl pvotally connected to the arm of each latch and arranged to engage and release the intermediate portions of said braces from the latches, al

retractile coil spring interconnecting said latches for holding the same in engagement with the braces, a guide rod rigidly secured to said rail,

a second guide rod formed of spring kmetal secured at one end thereof to said rail and having an abutment formed thereon for preventing improp- 6. A folding leg table comprising a tabletop,

two pairs of legs pivotally connected to the table top and arranged to fold one upon the other, a

legs, a locking mechanism for holding said legs in extended position comprising a pair of pivotally mounted latches, a guide rod rigidly secured to said table top, a second guide rod formed of spring metal secured at one end thereof to said ltable top and having an abutment formed thereon for preventing improper closing of the legs, and means secured to said braces and slidably engaging said guide rods for guiding the same into engagement with the latches of said locking mechanism.

ROY O. CUFFEL.

10 brace pivotally connected to each pair of said 

